Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether Network Rail plans to continue its apprenticeship programme in (a) 2015-16 and (b) 2016-17; and what the annual budget is for that programme.

For 2015-16, Network Rail plans to take 210 apprentices starting from September. 205 of these are new recruits to Network Rail and 5 have been recruited as new entrants by its supply chain.　 The budget for these apprentice places, for a scheme that will be completed over 3 years, totals £8.3m.

For 2016-17, Network Rail is making plans for an intake of 150 apprentices starting in September 2016; 100 of these will be new recruits to Network Rail and 50 places will be offered to its supply chain.　 The annual budget for this year is being finalised.